Beamless Firearm Training And Entertainment System

ABSTRACT

A system for providing training for the firing of a firearm incorporates a device on the firearm to measure various parameters regarding the position of the firearm relative to a target when a shot is taken. The system compares the trajectory of the shot based on the determined position of the firearm at the time the simulated round is fired with the known position of a target in order to determine the accuracy of the shot. With that information the system can determine what alterations need to be made to the shot in order to improve the accuracy for subsequent shots. The system can determine the direction of the shot and the impact point relative to the target without the need for a beam to be emitted from the device or for a camera to be incorporated within the system.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates generally to firearm training devices and systems, and more specifically to devices and systems attached to firearms to determine the point of impact of a projectile from the firearm.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

There are many types of devices and systems that are utilized to determine impact points of projectiles fired from the projectile in order to improve the accuracy of the individual operating the firearm. Many of these devices and systems employ implements that are spaced from the firearm, such as targets, that provide a direct indication of the point of impact of the projectile fired from the firearm.

However, on many occasions it is undesirable to actually fire the projectile from the firearm for various reasons, including but not limited to safety. In these situations a number of alternative devices and systems have been developed that do not require the firearm to be fired. Most of these devices and systems include a beam-emitting device that is secured to the firearm or utilized as a substitute for the firearm.

The device is operably connected to the trigger of the firearm or other device in order to emit the beam upon operation of the trigger. In this manner, when the trigger is depressed the device emits the beam from the device that contacts the target or other item. The point of contact of the beam with the target as determined by a camera capturing the contact of the beam with the target provides the indication of the accuracy of the simulated shot fired from the firearm.

While these types of devices and systems enable the individual to fire a simulated projectile without actually firing the firearm, they have a number of shortcomings. For example, the device is often attached to the exterior of an actual firearm, such that the path of the beam is not the same as the path of an actual projectile fired from the firearm, thereby lessening the effectiveness of the training provided by the system.

Further, the beam must be sensed in order to determine the contact point of the beam with the target to determine the accuracy of the contact point with the desired location on the target. As such, other devices separate from the beam emitting device must be employed in the system to detect the point of contact of the beam on the target, such as a camera or other suitable device, greatly increasing the complexity of the system.

Other alternative systems that attempt to overcome these shortcomings have also been developed. Some examples of these systems are found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,668,496 entitled Training System (the '496 patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 9,319,842 entitled Mobile Device Configured Point And Shoot Type Weapon (the '842 patent), each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

In the '496 patent, a mobile device is attached to a firearm. The firearm is operated by an individual to direct a projectile at a target. The mobile device is configured with a number of different types of sensors that enable the mobile device to measure and track a number of attributes of the individual utilizing the firearm including the mobile device secured thereto. However, while the mobile device can sense and record parameters relating to the individual during various training sessions employing the firearm, the data recorded pertains to the status of the individual and not to the shot(s) taken by the individual. Further, the mobile device requires the firearm to be operated in a live condition, such that the system including the mobile device is only applicable in environments where live fire training sessions can be utilized.

With regard to the '842 patent, the system disclosed is a shooting game played utilizing mobile phones as the simulated firearms. The various sensors included with the phone enable the system to determine the location of the phones, as well as the direction in which a phone is pointed. This enables the system to ascertain whether a “shot” taken with a particular phone is sufficiently directed as a separate phone constituting an opposing player to register as a hit. The system includes different stored parameters, such as regarding the simulated accuracy of the phone when taking a shot, to be utilized in determined the success of any shot attempted from a phone.

While capable of utilizing the sensors in the phone to enable the game to be played, there is no adaptation of the system for use with an actual firearm in order to provide training to an individual regarding the use of the firearm.

Thus, it is desirable to develop a device and/or system to provide an individual with training with a firearm that can do so by analyzing the shots taken by the individual using the firearm in a non-live fire or simulated condition by providing data regarding the impact position and trajectory of the shots.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Briefly described, one aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for providing training for the firing of a firearm that incorporates a device on the firearm to measure various parameters regarding the position of the firearm relative to a target when a shot is taken. The system compares the trajectory of the shot based on the determined position of the firearm at the time the simulated or actual round is fired with the known position of a target in order to determine the accuracy of the shot. With that information the system can determine what alterations need to be made to the shot in order to improve the accuracy for subsequent shots.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the system can determine the direction of the shot and the impact point relative to the target without the need for a beam to be emitted from the device or for a camera to be incorporated within the system.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the firearm utilized with the system can be an airsoft gun, a paintball gun, a simulated firearm or a real firearm. Further, the device employed on the firearm with the system can be a device secured to the exterior of the particular firearm or can alternatively be incorporated directly within the body of the firearm as well

Numerous other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description together with the drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one exemplary embodiment of a firearm training system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the training system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, one exemplary embodiment of a beamless firearm training system constructed according to the present disclosure is illustrated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The system 10 includes a monitoring device 12 that is operably secured to a firearm 14, and a target 16 spaced from the firearm 14. The device 12 can be affixed to the firearm 14 in any suitable manner, such that the device 12 is able to move in conjunction with the firearm 14 to be able to sense variations in the position and angle of the firearm 14 during use by an individual.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the device 12 is secured to the firearm 14 using a bracket, strap or mount 100 that holds the device 12 on the firearm 14 at a location that does not interfere with the normal operation of the firearm 14. In certain exemplary embodiments, the device 12 can be formed with a housing 40 that includes features (not shown) that are directly engageable in known manners with a mounting rail (not shown) formed on the firearm 14.

In an alternative embodiment, the device 12 can be incorporated within the body of the firearm 14, as opposed to be releasably or permanently secured to the exterior of the firearm 14. Further, in addition to an actual or simulated firearm 14, the firearm 14 can alternatively be an airsoft gun or a paintball gun.

The target 16 includes a number of target images 18 disposed on the target 16 at known locations. The locations of the target images 18 are known distances and elevations from one another on the target 16. The images 18 can be of any variety, and in certain exemplary embodiments can be formed with various portions 200, each portion corresponding to an area of a simulated target represented by the image 18, such as a head, a limb or other body part. The locations of each of these portions 200 are also known distances and elevations from one another on the target 16.

The device 12 is formed with an electronic compass 20, such as one formed from a combination of a 3D accelerometer 22 and a 3D magnetometer 24. An example of one exemplary embodiment of the compass 20 is found in Implementing a Tilt-Compensated eCompass using Accelerometer and Magnetometer Sensors, Rev. 4, www.nxp.com/docs/en/application-note/AN4248.pdf (2015), which is expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety or all purposes. The combination of the accelerometer 22 and the magnetometer 24 enables the compass 20 to determine the exact position and angle of the firearm 14 relative to the target 16 and the target images 18. Thus, when the individual utilizing the firearm 14 depresses the trigger 15 to fire a simulated round at one of the target images 18, the compass 20 can determine the exact position and angle of the firearm 14 at the instant of firing the round, which often can be altered as a result of movement of the individual during firing. This determination can be facilitated in exemplary embodiment by a trigger sensor 26 operably connected between the trigger 15 of the firearm 14 and the device 12 in a known manner to enable the compass 20 to collect the required position data at the instant the trigger sensor 26 senses the depressing of the trigger 15 by the individual.

The data collected by the compass 20 can be directed to a central processing unit (CPU) 28 located within the device 12 and operably connected to the compass 20. The CPU 28 operates to receive the data from the compass 20 and process the data for analysis either within the device 12, or in a computing device 300 separate from the device 12. The device 12 can include an electronic storage unit or database 30 including operating instructions for the CPU 28 in response to receiving data from the compass 20 and other operational data concerning the use of the device 12, and/or a wireless transceiver 32 for transmitting and receiving data from the remote computing device 300.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 2, the individual takes the firearm 14 equipped with the device 20 at a position spaced from the target 16, which is determined by the system 10. The individual then aims the firearm 14 at an image or a portion 200 of an image 18 on the target 16 and depresses the trigger. The trigger sensor 26 determines the trigger has been operated and causes the compass 20 to determine the location, direction and angle of the firearm 14 at the time of operation of the trigger using the accelerometer 22 and magnetometer 24. The data obtained by the compass 20 is transmitted to the CPU 28 and optionally to the computing device 300 for analysis with respect to the stored position data concerning the target image 18 and/or the image portion 200. The analysis provides an output detailing the expected impact point of the simulated projectile relative to the image 18 or image portion 200 based on the position data from the compass 20. In this manner, the individual can train to operate the firearm 14 more accurately using the system 10 and without the need for a beam-emitter and/or a camera as components of the system 10.

In alternative exemplary embodiments, the system 10 can also incorporate the environmental conditions, i.e., wind, elevation, etc., into the analysis, such as by obtaining the environmental data from a sensor (not shown) on the device 12, or from an exterior information source that provides the information directly (wirelessly) or indirectly (user-input) to the device 10 for use in the analysis. In these or other exemplary embodiments, the device 12 can also be configured to employ additional data in the analysis regarding the type of firearm 14 being utilized, the type of ammunition for the simulated round, and the effects of gravity on the round resulting from the distance between the firearm 14 and the target 16, such as determined by the use of global positioning (GPS) data. This data can be stored within the device 12, such as within the database 30 for selection on the device 12 by the individual utilizing the system 10, such as through the use of a user input 42 on the device 12, including but not limited to a touch screen (not shown).

In still other exemplary embodiments, the system 10 can accommodate multiple devices 12 on multiple firearms 14, such as in an entertainment and/or competition setting, in which each device 12 provides data for the simulated shots taken by the individual firearms 14 for comparison with one another and/or for determining whether any of the simulated shots have hit other participants, target(s) 18, and/or firearms 14 in the game or other entertainment or training competition.

Various other embodiments of the present disclosure are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention. 

1. A firearm training system comprising: a) a device including a compass for measuring the position and angle of a firearm to which the device is attached; and b) a target spaced from the device and including images thereon at known locations, wherein the system does not include a beam-emitting device or a camera.
 2. The firearm training system of claim 1, wherein the compass comprises: a) an accelerometer, and b) a magnetometer.
 3. The firearm training system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a housing within which the compass is disposed.
 4. The firearm training system of claim 3, wherein the housing is releasably attachable to the firearm.
 5. The firearm training system of claim 4, wherein the housing is releasably attached to a bracket securable to the firearm.
 6. The firearm training system of claim 4, wherein the housing includes a strap releasably engageable with the firearm.
 7. The firearm training system of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises: a) a central processing unit (CPU) operably connected to and configured to receive data from the accelerometer and the magnetometer; and b) an electronic storage unit operably connected to the CPU and containing operation instructions for the CPU.
 8. The firearm training system of claim 7, wherein the device further comprises a wireless transceiver operably connected to the CPU to send and receive data to and from the device.
 9. The firearm training system of claim 1, further comprising a trigger sensor operably connected to the device and adapted to be connected to the firearm.
 10. the firearm training system of claim 1, further comprising a simulated firearm to which the device is attached.
 11. A method of providing firearm training, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a device including a compass for measuring the position and angle of a firearm to which the device is attached and a target spaced from the device and including images thereon at known locations, wherein the system does not include a beam-emitting device or a camera; b) securing the device to a simulated firearm; c) operating the simulated firearm to fire simulated rounds at the target and generate data from the compass; and d) analyzing data from the compass on the simulated firearm to determine the accuracy of the simulated rounds.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the compass includes an accelerometer and a magnetometer and wherein the step of analyzing the data comprises determining the position of the firearm relative to the target using data from the accelerometer and the magnetometer.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the device includes a CPU and the step of determining the position of the firearm relative to the target is performed in the CPU.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein device includes a wireless transceiver operably connected to the CPU and wherein the method further comprises the step of transmitting the data from device to a remote computing device for analysis.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the device includes a trigger sensor operably connected to the CPU and wherein the step of operating the firearm comprises the step of depressing a trigger on the simulated firearm to activate the trigger sensor and initiate the CPU receiving data from the accelerometer and magnetometer. 